Jeremiah 1:
4 Here is the word of Adonai that came to me:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you;
before you were born, I separated you for myself.
I have appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
6 I said, “Oh, Adonai Elohim, I don’t even know how to speak! I’m just a child!” 7 But Adonai said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m just a child.’
“For you will go to whomever I send you,
and you will speak whatever I order you.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you, says Adonai,
to rescue you.”
9 Then Adonai put out his hand and touched my mouth, and Adonai said to me,
“There! I have put my words in your mouth.
10 Today I have placed you over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.”
---------------------The wonder and power of a calling is that God can transform what we take to be limits into gifts for good. Jeremiah was too young to be a prophet, so God put the necessary words into his fresh mouth.
When I was a youth, a wise woman touched me with sage words. It was not long after I graduated from college, in an adult forum at Ascension Lutheran Church in Los Angles. I wish that I could remember the woman's name; I'm certain she was involved in social service with elderly people. What she said that I do remember was simple but profound: at every stage of our lives, there are things that we cannot do. And the corollary is that at every stage there are things that we can do. Now that I am no longer so young, I take courage from this woman's observation and Jeremiah's example.
Ah, Lord God, when I do not know how to speak or what to do, touch my lips and open my eyes. Put words in my mouth and guide my actions to accomplish your creative purposes. Amen.
L. DeAne Lagerquist
Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College
Master of Arts , 1981
Jeremiah 1:4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."
7 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, "I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."[New Revised Standard Version]
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